Language combinations

We offer training with a range of languages in combination with English on our courses to both translation and interpreting students. Teaching methods may vary across courses and modules. Some modules are taught in language-specific classes, while others are taught in mixed-language classes. Language-specific classes are limited, where possible, to approximately 15 students to maximise your learning experience, with more popular language combinations having multiple groups. Mixed-language classes may have more students, though all sessions involve use of your language combination through working in pairs or small teams.

Full lists of specialised translation modules (compulsory for all students), audiovisual translation modules (compulsory for audiovisual translation students only), and interpreting modules (compulsory for interpreting students only) are given below.

You will be required to carry on a project during the summer: an extended translation project, a subtitling project, an interpreting project, or a dissertation. All summer projects are normally limited to the same language combinations as specialised translation modules, but sometimes a project may be in a combination not listed below, provided there is an appropriate supervisor and the Programme and Module Leaders agree. When working with Chinese, students are expected to be able to work in both Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, as this is the common practice in the translation and interpreting industries.

Languages for Specialised Translation Modules

Specialised Translation modules are compulsory on many of our taught courses: Applied Translation Studies (MAATS), Audiovisual Translation and Localisation (MAAVTLoc), Conference Interpreting and Translation Studies (MACITS), Business and Public Service Interpreting and Translation Studies (MABPSITS), and the translation pathway of Professional Language and Intercultural studies (MAPLIS).

You can study translation into English from all source languages that the Centre offers, and for some languages we also offer translation out of English. If your languages are not listed, please email our admissions team for advice.

Specialised Translation modules are available in the following language combinations and directions on the MAATS, MAAVTLoc, MACITS, MABPSITS, and MAPLIS programmes:

• Arabic into English;
• Chinese into English;
• French into English;
• German into English;
• Italian into English;
• Japanese into English;
• Portuguese into English;
• Russian into English;
• Spanish into English;
• Thai into English (2026/27 entry onwards);
• English into Arabic;
• English into Chinese.

Languages for Audiovisual Translation Modules

On the MAAVTLoc course, language-specific classes on specialist audiovisual translation modules are only available in the following language combinations and directions:

• Arabic into English;
• Chinese into English;
• French into English;
• German into English;
• Italian into English;
• Japanese into English;
• Portuguese into English;
• Russian into English;
• Spanish into English;
• English into Arabic;
• English into Chinese;
• English into Italian;
• English into Portuguese.

Students may however still take Specialised Translation modules in other language pairs.

Interpreting Languages

Interpreting modules are compulsory for all students of our interpreting courses: MA in Conference Interpreting and Translation Studies (MACITS), Post-Graduate Diploma in Conference Interpreting (PGDipCI), and MA in Business and Public Service Interpreting and Translation Studies (MABPSITS). 

Your A-language is your mother tongue, your B-language is an active language that you can work both from and into, and your C-language is a language that you can only work from. At Leeds, you can either work between English and one foreign language bidirectionally (AB pathway) or from two foreign languages into English only (ACC pathway). We may not provide training in a combination that does not include your mother tongue as this could severely limit your employability as an interpreter.

Below is a list of all the available modules in each course. If your languages are not listed above, please email our admissions team for advice.